Work for Men: SMS Contract Offers to Bashkortostan Residents Exposed
The recruitment campaign includes positions such as drone operators for the military.
Residents of Bashkortostan have started receiving SMS messages offering to allegedly sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for participation in the special operation. The messages are sent from an unknown number in Moscow. The sender promises a one-time payment for signing the contract of 2.7 million rubles (approximately $27,000 at current rates), which is significantly higher than in Ufa or provincial cities. As it turned out, the mass messaging is handled by a company from Moscow, which lists «personnel selection» as its activity. It has its «own» medical commissions and military commissariats where recruits are already waiting. A UFA1.RU journalist underwent an «interview» and learned the details.
«We Take Everyone»
A woman from Ufa told our editorial office that she never applied for military service, let alone for the special operation. And none of her relatives were interested in it. However, in November she received a message on her phone: the sender offered «work for men» with the Russian Ministry of Defense, specifically as a drone operator.
The key point in the sent message is «we take those who are rejected.» And there are many grounds for rejection: for example, a conviction for treason or espionage, for crimes against the sexual integrity of children, hostage-taking or terrorism, aircraft hijacking, organizing an illegal armed formation, armed rebellion, and a number of others. Also among the grounds for refusal is an outstanding conviction. Often, health status also has an impact.
The SMS offer arrived on a November morning to a resident«s phone.
Age also matters: the citizen must be over 18 years old, but in some cases under 40 years old. The site Svorb, signed as belonging to «Ufagorsvet,» indicates an upper limit of 65 years. In the SMS mass messaging — 64 years.
UFA1.RU turned to Ufa lawyer Roman Petrov, who has handled cases involving military personnel. He explained that there are always risks of deception, and such organizations cannot be 100% trusted. The lawyer notes that there have been cases of fraud against candidates for the special operation. Sometimes they were asked for a percentage for services rendered. We will present Roman Petrov«s detailed position below.
Contracts! Expensive!
As indicated in the message received by the Ufa woman, a new recruit can receive about 2.7 million rubles (approximately $27,000). This is a good amount even relative to Ufa: the city administration«s website states that the one-time payment in the capital of Bashkortostan is 1.7 million rubles (approximately $17,000). Earnings for the first year of service — from 4.2 million rubles (approximately $42,000). These are the rates at the beginning of December 2025.
Kazan, meanwhile, promises about 3 million rubles (approximately $30,000), and, for example, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast — half as much. In the Urals, they are ready to pay 3.1 million rubles (approximately $31,000).
The message included a phone number to contact for all questions. The sender«s number in the contacts app is listed as »Svinorez,« whatever that means, and the second — »Contract« or »Misha K.« (the full last name is indicated there, we have hidden it).
We will call our interlocutor «the employer.» So, the journalist asks: «Are you from the Ministry of Defense?» Answer: «Yes, from the Ministry of Defense.» Next, it is proposed to answer several questions: — Full name, age, convictions, illnesses, psycho- and narcology dispensaries, military ID and fitness category, service and contract experience, city, citizenship.
The sender claims affiliation with a non-existent federal military recruitment agency.
The representatives of the organization did not immediately want to provide their contacts, but after a series of clarifying questions, they did reveal themselves — «Kadrovy Rezerv» (Personnel Reserve) from Moscow. Although it«s not like they were hiding. Apparently, they were waiting for answers from the potential recruit, not questions.
«If you don»t trust anyone, just go to your military commissariat, and from there to service. The only question is how much they will pay you,« — said the interlocutor.
After another question, he clarified: regions pay differently due to budget differences. There are those who pay 600–800 thousand rubles (approximately $6,000–8,000) as a one-time payment, and others — 3 million (as in the case of Kazan or Yekaterinburg).
«We work with those regions where the maximum payments are — 2.5, 3 million rubles (approximately $25,000–30,000),» — said the employer.
The company accepts candidates with serious health conditions like HIV or hepatitis.
But if people have health problems, the company looks at where they can be sent. The interlocutor says that in their native regions, citizens can be refused due to any illnesses, up to stomach ulcers.
«It, it would seem, doesn»t interfere with life at all, but they [military commissariats] say: «No, we won»t take you.« So here everything depends on physical condition, health, many factors influence where we direct. But in any case, payments with us are practically always everywhere, even with problems, even people with HIV, hepatitis, very serious diseases, we make sure they receive at least 2–2.5 million (approximately $20,000–25,000) as a one-time payment,» — said the employer.
When asked about risks and fraud, he replied that the new recruit risks nothing: the company pays for travel, and food is compensated. And this is done every day. The employer emphasizes that they themselves risk more, as some candidates simply disappear: tickets are bought for them, and then they don«t answer calls. As a result, the company loses money.
The interlocutor explained at length why their clients «risk nothing»: supposedly, the times have passed when one could take out a loan just with a passport photo (by the way, no, they haven«t passed). He noted that it»s important for fraudsters to get an SMS from «Gosuslugi» or a bank card, in the case of «Kadrovy Rezerv» nothing like that is allegedly required.
«Everything else, believe me, is child»s play, amateur hour. Adults call and say: «Oh, you»ll send us to Chechnya now, to some brick factory.« Well, what must be in a person»s head, that a healthy, adult man calls and is afraid, like a girl, that we will send him to Turkey to engage in prostitution,« — said the interlocutor.
Brick factories in the Caucasus are shrouded in legends, but they really do exist (examples one, two, three). And unfortunately, people really do disappear there.
Employers promise high one-time payments for contract signings through their service.
«The Authorities Will Deal With This»
Lawyer Roman Petrov, who handles, among other things, military-legal cases, believes that such offers through mass messaging are inappropriate, they look like inducing the conclusion of a contract.
«It»s clear that contract service in the army is well paid, but since this is a risky matter, a person should make such a decision independently for patriotic reasons. You can«t push him. This is not good and illegal,» — noted Roman Petrov.
In the lawyer«s opinion, the legality of the mass messaging can be confirmed by an appropriate agreement with the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
«If not, then these are swindlers who must be held criminally liable. The authorities will already deal with this,» — noted the lawyer.
Whether «Kadrovy Rezerv» has it or not — is unclear, as the company«s head refused to comment. But more on that later.
Military personnel often face fraud schemes involving payments and intermediaries.
Petrov says there have been cases when contractors were demanded money after they received payments. Or else a power of attorney was issued for military personnel and their money was withdrawn.
The lawyer notes: where there is an opportunity to get big money, there are always those who want to profit from it. For example, they offer to get a shift job in the North, where they pay a lot, but then either demand a percentage or deceive.
«Sometimes they unscrupulously conclude a contract with people who should not have gotten into service at all: they are registered as alcoholics, for example. They are sent, they receive the payment, and then they say: »Let«s terminate the contract, I»m an alcoholic, I shouldn«t have been taken.» To avoid this, there should be fewer of these intermediaries,« — notes Roman Petrov.
In his opinion, such organizations earn money from contractors, which is unacceptable, as it is a matter of state importance.
«The state is fighting them, the Federal Security Service (FSB) is dealing with this,» — concluded the lawyer.
Africa Isn«t Waiting
As indicated in the message, candidates may also be sent to Africa. Often, those who have gone through the special operation then leave for hot countries. Not to rest at all.
«They don»t take people without conscript service or combat experience there now. So there«s no point for you to consider Africa. For you only the special operation,» — explained the interlocutor.
Next, the journalist filled out a questionnaire, indicating not his own full name and city of residence Kumerlau (240 kilometers from Ufa). Although, as the employer noted, fraudsters already have the data. And nevertheless.
Then the author tried to play on the fact that they take even those with poor health, and invented category «G» (temporarily unfit for military service) due to an ulcer. The interlocutor clearly understands the issue, as he immediately sensed something wrong — such a category for the indicated diagnosis was never given.
The recruiting firm covers travel costs and provides daily food compensation.
The employer said that it would be necessary to come to the military commissariat. And no, not in Ufa.
«We can first offer you to go through Moscow. I just talked — the military commissariat said that [chances] are 50/50. They say: »He«ll pass the medical commission — if everything is in order, he»ll go through us.« The payment there is big — 2.5 million (approximately $25,000). But it»s not about that, but that the salaries there are not the standard 210 thousand per month (approximately $2,100), but already 260 (approximately $2,600). Moreover, 260 plus. It«s clear that there is 210 plus, and there is 260 plus. Another 50 thousand (approximately $500) will be added by the city, the organization,» — said the interlocutor.
Tickets are bought for the candidate to Moscow, where he is immediately met, then taken to the selection point. There, an employee of the military commissariat sends him for a medical commission. If something doesn«t work out there, the recruit may be sent to Voronezh or Tver oblasts.
«They will take him for sure. We always have a backup. Actually, I don»t see a problem with you. Yes, category «G,» it«s borderline with »D«… but if you only had an ulcer and now it»s gone, then, if there are no other serious illnesses — HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, diabetes, asthma and everything related to constant therapy, blood pressure, heart, if there are no metals in the body, pins, plates, arms, legs, eyes are whole, all fingers on hands are whole, then there will be no problems. If you are ready, then say on which day, then we will talk more specifically,« — summarized the employer.
Assignments to Africa require prior military or combat experience from candidates.
A Kursk Native from Moscow
The interlocutor said that the hiring is done by the company «Kadrovy Rezerv» from Moscow. According to «Kontur.Fokus» data, it was registered in June 2024. The director and sole owner — Filipp Yudin. There is no data on financial indicators yet.
The first name of the company — «Siam Oriental,» which can be associated with cats or premium-class residential complexes in Thailand. The country, by the way, was called Siam before and a little after World War II. And what «Siam» means — still no one knows, but there is a version that it is «Beautiful.»
The registration address is also interesting: Strastnoy Boulevard, the very center of Moscow. Yudin«s other company — »Broker Invest« — is also located there, which will be discussed below.
What is known about the face of «Kadrovy Rezerv»: according to Fedresurs data, 40-year-old Filipp Yudin is from Moscow, but lived in Kursk Oblast.
According to «Kontur.Fokus» data, in business — since the 2000s: in 2007 he registered as an individual entrepreneur in Shebekino, Belgorod Oblast, selling perfumery and cosmetics.
In 2014, Filipp Yudin was among the founders of the company «Bi Connect,» created in 2009 in Kazan. The main activity — providing telephone communication services. In 2017, it was excluded from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities as inactive. The composition also included entrepreneurs from Ulyanovsk, Ufa, and a village in the suburbs of Yoshkar-Ola. Now they are not connected with Yudin.
In October 2017, Yudin was declared bankrupt, the financial manager described his property and began selling it. In 2018, the legendary 968th «Zaporozhets» went under the hammer, with an initial price of 15 thousand rubles (approximately $150), it was given away for 4.5 thousand (approximately $45). Then the procedure was completed because the debtor had no property or money found.
Meanwhile, in March 2015, he became a co-owner of an LLC from Moscow, which was engaged in construction. Yudin did not stay there long, already in 2016 his 25% share was distributed between two other participants. In 2021, Yudin«s individual entrepreneurship was excluded as inactive, and three years later, that company from Moscow as well.
Yudin«s email address, which is indicated in his new individual entrepreneurship, is found in the contacts of another Moscow firm: it is engaged in advertising, but is not directly connected with Yudin. However, its director owns the company »Broker Invest« from Kursk. Exactly the same firm is owned by Yudin in Moscow (more on that later).
This same email address was found in a job posting for «Kadrovy Rezerv» — there they were looking for a chat operator to process applications from contract candidates. They promised from 30 to 50 thousand rubles per month (approximately $300–500) for an irregular schedule.
Recruiters are hiring even students for contract positions with flexible terms.
But, returning to Filipp Yudin«s business: he registered a new individual entrepreneurship in 2024 in Kursk, it is engaged in personnel selection. In 2024, »Kadrovy Rezerv« and »Broker Invest« also appeared. The latter, it seems, does not engage in stock market investments (as the name suggests), but is something like a real estate agency. But there are still problems: the tax authorities have arrested the accounts because the company did not submit reports on time.
The benefit of «Kadrovy Rezerv» — is not very clear. However, it is noteworthy that this is specifically an LLC — that is, an organization aimed at making a profit, it does not act out of altruistic beliefs, otherwise it would have registered some kind of ANO.
Even before preparing the material, UFA1.RU sent official inquiries to the Ministry of Defense of Russia and the military commissariat of Bashkortostan, but did not receive a response to any of them. If they do come, we will publish the responses.
We also approached Filipp Yudin with questions. During the first conversation, he very calmly said that he was ready to talk, but would call back in an hour. He did not call back. During the second call, Yudin was irritated — we asked a clear question, but he said he did not understand what was wanted from him.
«And what is your question? What did you want, tell me? I ask again, what do you need, why are you calling?! Goodbye!» — said Yudin and hung up.
He did not answer subsequent calls, nor messages on social networks.
